CATEGORIES
Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now
BMW R 12 nineT
Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff
Portuguese Perambulations
Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored
Highway to Heaven
Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...
Battlaxes at the ready!
We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet
Ducati Riding Experience
When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...
Four pot flyer
Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...
Eastern adventurer
With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry
First Time Lucky?
It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.
Patagonia Expedition 2024
Following an invitational e-mail from Felix Billington, the owner of Magellan Motorcycle Tours, Chris and Dee Finch headed off on a 17-day trip on paved and gravel roads from Puerto Varas, Chile, going all the way down to Ushuaia before finishing in Punta Arenas
Hebridean Road Trip
With a new bike in his ownership, Willie decided a road trip was in order, and chose the Scottish Hebridean islands as his target
The Longest Day Teapot
Last month's write-up saw some jeopardy as the little Suzuki was neither running, nor had an MOT, with less than a week before the Longest Day Challenge...
Back in the Black MV Agusta Hubert Trunkenpolz interview
In November 2022 MV Agusta, wholly owned since 2019 by Russian entrepreneur Timur Sardarov and his family, and Pierer Mobility AG KTM’s parent company) reached an agreement on future strategic cooperation, as a result of which the Austrian firm headed by Stefan Pierer would acquire a 25.10% stake in MV Agusta via its KTM AG subsidiary.
Ready to race and 90% new
If there is one major manufacturer that looks out for a younger audience, it is KTM. For the Austrian factory, its entry-level machinery is every bit as important as its rangetopping flagships or adventure bikes. Remember big or small, a KTM has to be ‘Ready to Race'.
ADVENTURE OASIS
Deep in the heart of central Wales, high up in the Cambrian Mountains, there’s a place where adventure bikes reign supreme
Cardo Packtalk PRO
Those that know me will be all too aware of my inbuilt distrust of any technology that involves more than an on/off switch, and of my inability to deal with such technologies and, recently, I have become very aware of the fact that I need to join the 21st century by learning how to use these modern contrivances.
Scouting for everyone
For 2024, Indian Motorcycle not only launched a new version of their water-cooled Scout, developed over the last three-and-a-half years to replace the bike that was first launched in 2014, but presented no less than five versions, with the 101 Scout being the range-topper.
The Diavel's in the detail
With more power, less weight and better brakes than the previous brilliant V-twin version, It’s a winner
Superhero Sequel
Bigger engine, more power, less weight, and a new look for the 2024 BMW F 900 GS
The Longest Day Teapot - Tock tick, tick tock. Time scrolls past as Dave fights more issues...
I sat down on the garage floor in a sulk. And my eyes came to rest in the corner. On the spare engine from my Bandit race bike. The 600 Bandit was based on the GSX600F engine... While the spare race engine is a bit leaky (the usual Suzuki oil drain tubes at the front of the engine), it was a decent runner when it was in the Bandit. Right, engine swap time!
Spice World
Spicing up my life with a 1000km trip around the backwaters, mountains and forests of Kerala and Tamil Nadu - the world's largest spice garden
The French Connection
Over 700 miles in seven days touring the islands, châteaux and bridges of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley in southwest France
Border Reiver Servicing
Taking your bike for a service needn't be a chore - make a full day of it and see the sights!
FAST FASHION
Distinctive design meets dramatic dynamic in the shape of Husqvarna's new Svartpilen 801
OOZING CHARM
In a world where everything's becoming increasingly slick, sanitised and technologically advanced, Moto Guzzi's doing its best to keep things old school
FANTIC MOTOR CEO MARIANO ROMAN INTERVIEW: Ten Years In
MV Agusta, Indian, Norton, Moto Morini, Brough Superior, Horex and most recently BSA - the contents of the freezer section of motorcycling's history store have gradually been defrosted over the past quarter century, repackaged in a modern context and restored to today's marketplace. The process began 35 years ago with the relaunched Triumph, but one of the most successful comebacks has taken place over the past decade with barely anyone noticing. That's how long it's taken for Italy's Fantic Motor to be transformed under astute new management and careful investment into a serious growth brand in the off-road and dual-purpose markets, now sold globally through more than 1000 dealers in over 50 different countries
EXTREME TWIN
Yamaha has yet another Ténéré 700 in its line-up! The sixth incarnation of the popular middleweight adventure bike (though there're now only five available to buy new), the Ténéré Extreme, as its name suggests, is designed to cope with more serious off-roading. We went to the Yamaha Off-Road Experience centre in Wales to see how well it deals with life away from the Tarmac
Like Sunday morning
With one clutch-alternative device already within their range, do Honda really need another?
The not-so sensible BMW
BMWs used to be sensible. Durable, utilitarian and definitely not showing off, the boxers and early K100s of, say, 40 years ago were typically ridden sensibly by sensible dads and accountants. Times, however, have changed